Musings AT Dawn : Snake protocol

What is the protocol when you find a snakein the boat with you?

> Use the oar to dislodge it, a 10-foot oar does not seem a very versatile tool and anyway it is only the oars in the water that is keeping us right side up

I remember the emergency paddle and it is up my end, “my end”, did I just give it squatters rights?

I usually check for snakes but could not sleep and thought a moonlight row would be nice.

I can see the dark thing against the silver hull in the moonlight and it is not rattling, OK- desperate times when not rattling is a good thing.

I slide it onto the paddle and hurl it into the water, there are only two venomous snakes hereabouts and if it was not a rattlesnake then it is a “Water Mocassin”, maybe it will think hurling it into the water is a game.

How fast can I row? How fast can it swim ?

I slither back to my seat (slither really!!), the oars bite the water (OK stop using words like that) and we are off, the snakes head is up and going away from me across the moonlit water.